This guidance provides technical advice on how to perform the hazard and exposure assessment and risk characterisation for biocidal active substances and biocidal products.
- Applies to:
- Great Britain – for applications submitted to HSE after 1 February 2027. Northern Ireland
- Published by:
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
- Published:
- February 2024
- Last updated:
- No
Document
Guidance on the assessment of risks to bees from the use of biocides
- Type and file size
- PDF 1.25MB
Details
HSE has adopted this ECHA guidance in Great Britain. The guidance applies to Great Britain applications submitted to HSE after 1 February 2027. This guidance already applies to new Northern Ireland applications.
The document describes how to perform a risk assessment for bees, in accordance with Article 19(1)(b)(iv) of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).
It proposes a tiered approach scheme for the exposure estimation in different scenarios, hazard characterisation and a risk assessment methodology covering both dietary and contact exposure. It also provides recommendations for:
- higher tier assessment
- metabolite risk assessment
- biocidal product risk assessment
The routes of exposure covered are:
- application of manure or sludge from animal housing (for example from insecticide use in stables or manure storage systems)
- spraying on walls and foundations of buildings
- irrigation of private gardens with treated water (for example, where rainwater barrels are treated to control mosquitoes)
- large scale spraying of trees, bushes or natural water bodies
The document refers to ‘Appendix B - Shortcut values for contact and dietary exposure’. You can download Appendix B from the ECHA website.
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Biocides applications: information, assessments and evaluation